Rail bar

Abstract: Noise nuisance is considerably reduced by arranging in the web recess of a rail bar a mouldable material (9) with a low specific mass, for instance Corkelast®. When a body of considerably greater specific mass (10,11) is arranged in this mass the generated noise is limited still further. Application in a railway system wherein the body of the wheels of the train or tram is filled with Corkelast® brings about a still further limitation of the noise nuisance.

Description: The invention relates to a rail bar of which at least the web recess is filled from head to base with a mouldable material of a low specific mass. Rail and tramway services cause noise nuisance. Particularly for instance where the train or tram moves through a bend in the route, a high screeching noise level is generated which strikes the human ear as being unpleasant. In built-up areas it is the intention to counter this nuisance by placing sound-insulating walls and the like. In the case of tram services in a built-up area this is not possible, or hardly so. EP-A-0 404 756 discloses a rail bar whereof the web recess is filled to at least the head and the base of the rail with a mouldable material. Furthermore, the interposing of a rubber material between the rail and a underlying steelplate is known from this publication. It is the object of the invention to prevent the problem of noise nuisance at the source and to bring about vibration damping, that is, the attempt is made to prevent the occurrence of the noise. This is achieved according to the invention by employing a rail bar whereof a rod-like body of considerably greater specific mass is arranged in said mouldable material of low specific mass, near the base of the rail. Said body absorbs the vibration energy generated in the rail bar. The body can for instance be of steel. A suitable material for the application according to the invention is a polymer filled with finely divided cells, for instance cork particles. This product is commercially available under the name Corkelast®. The material can be arranged in the web recess of the rail bar by means of casting. In existing rail constructions an element in the form and size of the web recess of the rail bar can be arranged by means of adhesive. A further improvement can be achieved by arranging the rail bars on the support of the rail bar with interposing of a support layer of flexible material with a specific mass equal to or lower than that of the surrounding mass. A layer of material of low specific mass can be arranged between the flexible support layer and the rail bar. A further improvement in the operation of a railway system is obtained by use of rail bars according to the invention. The invention is elucidated with reference to a drawing of an embodiment. Figure 1 shows a view of a rail bar according to the invention on a railway, Figure 2 shows in cross sectional view a rail bar according to the invention, Figure 3 shows an element of Corkelast® in the form and with the size of the web recess of a rail bar, and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment in cross sectional view. Figures 1 to 3 do not show the arrangement of a rod-like body according to the invention. The rail bar 1 according to the invention can be secured to a sleeper 2 of a railway 3 using rail clips 4 and 5. According to the invention the web recess 6, 7 of rail 1 is filled with a material with a low specific mass, for instance Corkelast®. The material can be cast in or, in the case of an already placed rail, an element 8 of Corkelast® as according to figure 3 can be fixed by gluing into the form of the web recess of the rail. A body 10, 11 (see Figure 4) of considerably higher specific mass is arranged in the mass 6, 7, 8 of low specific weight. The bodies 10, 11 can for instance be a cylindrical steel rod. The rods 10 and 11 absorb the vibration energy generated by the rail and transmitted via the mass 9 to the rods 10 and 11. According to a second embodiment as in figure 4, the rail bar and the surrounding masses can be arranged in a support 12 with interposition of a supporting layer 13 of flexible material with a specific mass equal to or lower than that of the mass 9.

Claims: Rail bar of which at least the web recess is filled from head to base with a mouldable material (6, 7, 8) of a low specific mass, characterized in that a rod-like (10, 11) of considerably greater specific mass is arranged in said mouldable material of low specific mass, near the base of the rail, said body absorbing the vibration energy generated in the rail bar. Rail bar as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said body is of steel. Rail bar as claimed in claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rail is arranged in a rail support (12) with interposing of a supporting layer (13) of flexible material and a layer of material (9) with a low specific mass. Rail bar as claimed in claims 1-3, characterized in that an element (8) with the form and dimensions of the web recess is glued into the rail bar. Rail bar as claimed in claims 1-4, characterized in that the specific mass of the material (6, 7, 8, 9) is about 1. Railway system with rail bars as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-5.

Inventors: VOGELAAR ROBBERT, VOGELAAR, ROBBERT
Applicants: EDILON BV, EDILON B.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E01B19
IPC codes: E01B19